Jorge Lorenzo is already impressed by the work of Honda in the two MotoGP tests in his first interview in new colours, while revealing that the bike already suits him better.
With the start of the year 2019, Lorenzo is now officially a Honda rider as he starts his career’s new chapter with the Japanese manufacturer after spending the last two MotoGP seasons with Ducati.
Following his departure from Yamaha, it was a big call to switch to Ducati which almost failed when it took the Spaniard and the team a year and a half to get the bike to his liking but once they managed to perfect it, the results spoke for itself.
It was too late, however, as Lorenzo made up his mind to leave the team and join Honda alongside Marc Marquez. The move is again termed as a big call from the Spaniard as he is moving into a team which is devoted to Marquez wholly.
Despite the contract with Ducati, he was allowed to test with Honda in the two post-2018 tests at Valencia and Jerez, where he got the initial feelings of the Honda machinery and was able to share his feedback ahead of the 2019 season.
The world champion was immediately impressed by the work ethics of Honda as whatever changes he demanded after Valencia was already in place by Jerez, especially the fuel tank which he feels is 100 percent to his liking.
Even the bike – in terms of the riding position and style – Lorenzo was comfortable with the dimensions which is compact and smaller than what he rode in Ducati. The Spaniard could already feel the potential which he can extract more in the coming tests.
“One of the things that impressed me most was the ability of the Repsol Honda Team to react, providing what you ask for,” he said in what is his first interview in Honda colours with the start of the new year.
“I was quite clear, Honda took note of all my indications and within a few days they had everything ready and we had a fuel tank almost one hundred percent to my liking. Last season I rode a completely different bike, that was very big and very tall. Maybe it was a little too big for me.
“The Honda suits me better in terms of its dimensions. It is more compact, a smaller and lower bike, with which I can lean over better. I felt a little more confident when entering corners, because the closer you are to the ground, the more confidence you have.
“The first impression was positive and I saw a lot of potential there. It’s all very exciting, very new and enjoyable. Also, if the initial feeling is good, you can tell even more from your expression.”
Lorenzo continued showering praises for Honda and even compared the Japanese manufacturer with the likes of football giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, as one of the most successful teams in the world.
While he adapts to the new bike, one of the other big challenge will be the fight against Marquez, who has shown what Honda is capable of. Certainly, Lorenzo is aiming to learn as much from him and try to beat him in his game.
“All riders have our strengths and our weaknesses and Marc also has them,” he said. “I will try to learn from his strengths, and I guess he will try to learn from mine. We will push each other; I will want to beat him and he will want to beat me.
“That always makes the team grow and helps provide new technical progress for the bike.” For now, the ‘proud’ Spaniard is counting down the days until January 23 when the 2019 challenger, the RC213V, will be officially presented in Madrid.
[Read: Mick Doohan on Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo]